Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'll keep it brief, as I have to go to work soon...

We had a gig the other weekend opening for a Rush Tribute band. The gig went GREAT, or so the guitarist and I thought. The guys from YYZ complimented us on our style ("you guys ROCK!") and I talked with their bassist about my 4004L (he had a couple of J basses)...

Afterwards, when the best thing to say was "great job, guys", the singer starts in on the "we need another instrument in the band". The guitarist was a little PO'd, and I said that I didn't think it was a good idea until we finished paying off our PA (we still owe over $2500). I also said that I'd like to have someone who could spell me on bass a couple of tunes if it were to come to pass.

Well, without consulting me or the guitarist, the singer invites a guitarist/keyboardist into the band. I only found out about it via a forwarded e-mail from the guitarist. When cornered by the guitarist at their office, the spin is enough to make someone dizzy: "are you dissatisfied with our sound?"...."no, but we could do MORE with another player"; "how do we deal with the equipment issue?"..."well, the 4 of us are the 'Band', he'll 'just be playing with us'". Key-rist!

The clincher is this comment from the singer to the guitarist: "we are a good band, but we can be a great band. And face it, you're not that young. This could be the last band you're ever in."

We were supposed to rehearse and discuss this Monday, but drummer boy (who seems to think that we can discuss this via a conference call) couldn't make it...something came up. Yeah, he went to the Bucs game Sunday and his wife said it's either the football or the music. Music lost...

Joe (the guitarist) and I already have another drummer lined up, we're meeting him Thursday...has electronic drums so we don't have to play at ear shattering volumes, he seems to have many of the same tastes as we do. I guess the plan is to do both projects simultaneously, but I'm almost to the point to tell these idiots to go pound sand. The "last band you'll ever be in" comment says it all, but as I look back on the events of this year I've basically been ignored on any major discussion, and that's not the way it was supposed to be.

Hopefully this new drummer will work out. I figure a few rehearsals and I'll get my voice into lead vocalist shape...

LSD strikes again!!!!!!!!!!!

But existentially, it is true...this could be the last band that you're ever in. What better reason, then, to buy more basses?!

The last band you will ever be in?

Good bass players are always in demand ...

Particularly ones who can sing. If it's not fun don't do it! None of us are getting rich playing, so there's no need for putting up with ********. You see it a lot even in small towns like mine. Someone gets a swelled head, & ruins it for the other guys. Boot the singer & if the drummer can't be bothered to show, too bad for him. It's all about the attitude. Even if the guy is an awesome player you still have to be able to put up with him.
Been there, done that! Do what you gotta do. You're 3/4 of the way to a new band anyway!

Way too much drama for grown ups.

I fired our keyboard player on Sunday just because he grumbles and whines too much for me. We have a gig tonight. Feh, we'll be a 4 piece - the songs were all written on guitar anyway.

and the beat goes on...

Big Al's Band Rule Number 1: Never be in a band with a guy who is just the singer.

Everyone needs to carry their weight; make the guitar player sing. Hell, make the drummer sing. I've never been in a bar band where at least three of the members sang lead and I've never been in an originals band where at least 3 guys sang (back up or otherwise). I've always sung at least back up and in my last cover band I sang lead on half the songs.

Or get the singer to play (acoustic)guitar. Our singer plays to fill in holes, as does our sound guy who also sings.
And who really needs a reason to buy more basses/guitars ( the wife, that's who!)?
Hey, buy a doubleneck & some bass pedals So you can play it all yourself!

Singer is trying to learn guitar...I guess he felt if Joe could be a good guitarist, then anyone could be. Monkey boy is finding out that it just doesn't happen that easily.

As for the guitarist singing...about a year and a half ago he tried, and the drummer said "you suck singing, Joe". So Joe's been basically shunned from a mic by of course the two most important people in the band. He'll be expected to do some back ups in the new configuration. The other night he sang "It's Only Rock-n-Roll" pretty well.

As far as I can tell, if the meeting and playing with the new drummer goes well we're 100% of the way to having a new band. I intend to be lead singer in this project.

As for the last band I'm ever in...I guess it could be...if I were to die in the really near future. I'm making my plans as if that will not be the case.

Thanks for the observations, guys!

If it IS the last band you'll ever be in, you don't want it to be with HIM!
We divide everything in our band, singer plays keys and does lights, guitar player sings, runs sound, I play bass, sing backgrounds, book gigs, website and do promo (and I am also the ultimate arbiter of set lists and what sucks and what doesn't), and our drummer, well, he plays drums, and sometimes books gigs. All in all, a perfect arrangement.

Sometimes personalities are more important than musicianship. All of my band are great musicians, but the personalities are what makes it fun...

That's IT! If the guys are a pain to babysit, find new guys that aren't.There's always someone like yourself who's had enough of idiots & is looking for a fresh start.

I went to band practice last night and the drummer has an excess of bad attitude ... his act is wearing thin ... the good news is he will probably get ****** off and quit so we can replace him ...

give him the El Cabong (aka: Pete Townsend)treatment!

On our Antarctic radio show, my co-host 'Naked' and I had an on-air motto: "We do every show like it's our last show"...

That should be your motto with the band you're in, or forming..."If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, would I want this to be the last band I was in?"